第68部分(第3/7 页)

）　saw　the　difference。　Both　were　fair　plexioned　and　slenderly　made；　both　possessed　faces　full　of　distinction　and　intelligence。　One；　to　be　sure；　had　hair　a　shade　darker　than　the　other；　and　there　was　a　difference　in　their　style　of　wearing　it；　Mary’s　pale　brown　locks　were　parted　and　braided　smooth：　Diana’s　duskier　tresses　covered　her　neck　with　thick　curls。　The　clock　struck　ten。

“Ye’ll　want　your　supper；　I　am　sure；”　observed　Hannah；　“and　so　will　Mr。　St。　John　when　he　es　in。”

And　she　proceeded　to　prepare　the　meal。　The　ladies　rose；　they　seemed　about　to　withdraw　to　the　parlour。　Till　this　moment；　I　had　been　so　intent　on　watching　them；　their　appearance　and　conversation　had　excited　in　me　so　keen　an　interest；　I　had　half…forgotten　my　own　wretched　position：　now　it　recurred　to　me。　More　desolate；　more　desperate　than　ever；　it　seemed　from　contrast。　And　how　impossible　did　it　appear　to　touch　the　inmates　of　this　house　with　concern　on　my　behalf；　to　make　them　believe　in　the　truth　of　my　wants　and　woes—to　induce　them　to　vouchsafe　a　rest　for　my　wanderings！　As　I　groped　out　the　door；　and　knocked　at　it　hesitatingly；　I　felt　that　last　idea　to　be　a　mere　chimera。　Hannah　opened。

“What　do　you　want？”　she　inquired；　in　a　voice　of　surprise；　as　she　surveyed　me　by　the　light　of　the　candle　she　held。

“May　I　speak　to　your　mistresses？”　I　said。

“You　had　better　tell　me　what　you　have　to　say　to　them。　Where　do　you　e　from？”

“I　am　a　stranger。”

“What　is　your　business　here　at　this　hour？”

“I　want　a　night’s　shelter　in　an　out…house　or　anywhere；　and　a　morsel　of　bread　to　eat。”

Distrust；　the　very　feeling　I　dreaded；　appeared　in　Hannah’s　face。　“I’ll　give　you　a　piece　of　bread；”　she　said；　after　a　pause；　“but　we　can’t　take　in　a　vagrant　to　lodge。　It　isn’t　likely。”

“Do